Scientific Name: Curcuma longalinn.
Other Common Name(s): Indian Saffron, Indian Valerian, Jiang Huang, Radix, Red Valerian
General Medicinal uses: In the treatment of Animal and Insect poisoning, Cold, Fever, cough, skin diseases, Diabetes, bronchitis, Inflammations, Intestinal worms, migraine.
Chemical contents: Turmerol-a volatil e oil, curcumine-a yellow substance, essential oils, resins, alkaloids.
Turmeric is a spice widely used in India in cooking various curries. It has also been used since ancient times as a traditional medicine and also for beauty care. In the Ayurveda system of Indian medicine, it is an important herbal medicine prescribed for various ailments. It is very commonly used throughout India as an ingredient for traditional beauty care treatments. In fact, it is even used in modern times to plug radiator leaks in water-cooled radiators. The Ayurveda is an ancient Sanskrit text of Indian medicine which describes the use of various herbs and also other remedies of traditional medicine like incantations and amulets for a whole range of ailments and also beauty care. Turmeric is considered as an important part of the range of herbal medicines described in this text. Turmeric is used in Ayurveda in two ways- freshly extracted turmeric juice, which is taken orally, and turmeric paste used for skin application. Raw turmeric is actually a rhizome of curcuma longa similar to ginger in appearance. This raw vegetable is crushed and the strained extracted juice forms a translucent reddish- yellow liquid which is more or less tasteless. These juice is then to be taken either raw or if the person wishes, mixed with honey preferably early in the morning on empty stomach. A wide range of benefit is described for this treatment in the Ayurveda. The main use of turmeric juice taken regularly is as a blood purifier. In this context, it is believed to enhance health of the whole body. It is also said to be most beneficial in chronic illnesses with generalized weakness and in diseases like renal failure where toxins are released into the body. The other use of turmeric juice is in stomach ailments. It is said to have a soothing effect on the stomach and thus helps in diseases like hyperacidity and indigestion. Taken regularly, it gives a healthy glow to the skin also.
The other use of turmeric as a herbal medicine is in beauty care, where its juice is applied to the skin as a raw paste, kept for around thirty minutes and then washed off. It has been used as an herbal cosmetic in India since ancient times and is still in use even today throughout the country. It is an essential ingredient of the traditional bathing ritual of Indian marriages where it is applied along with sandal wood paste before the bath.
Regular turmeric use is said to make the skin soft and smooth. It also gives a glow to the skin and produces a fairer complexion. Turmeric is also prescribed in Indian medicine for various skin ailments where application of the paste regularly is advocated. It is used for spots of pigmentation or blotches that may appear on the skin, and also for diseases like eczema. Turmeric is also used in traditional medicine for cuts and burns as it is believed to have an antiseptic effect and also promote healing. Besides these uses as an herbal medicine, the Ayurveda also gives some other uses of turmeric. It is said to be poisonous for crocodiles, and anyone swimming in crocodile infested waters should apply turmeric paste to protect himself! It is also believed to ward off snakes and the presence of turmeric plants around the house act as a barrier for them. The paste is also used in Indian medicine for snakebites. Its use is also advocated in various rites and spells to ward off ghosts and evil spirits. Turmeric has also received a lot of attention in modern times from science, and its active ingredient, curcumin, has been isolated. Curcumin has been shown to have an anti-oxidant property, and is used in alternative medicine for this. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing histamine levels. It has also been shown to have a protective effect on the liver and also in atherosclerosis. These effects are still under examination through various trials, but turmeric has already become an important remedy in alternative medicine. In fact, there is even a hotly contested patent application by a US firm to control this traditional Indian medicine. Turmeric extract is now available in tablet and capsule form and can be taken orally thrice daily. Turmeric today continues to be used very widely throughout India as an alternative medicine, and also in herbal beauty care. A modern use discovered more recently is in plugging radiator leaks! In the water cooled type of radiators, a spoonful of turmeric added to the water plugs the leak almost magically. This is just one more use of this Indian spice that continues to be reinvented and rediscovered throughout the world.
2-Turmeric is a spice grown in India and other tropical regions of Asia. It has a long history of use in herbal remedies, particularly in China, India, and Indonesia. The root of the plant contains the active ingredient, curcumin.
Overview
Turmeric is a common food flavoring and coloring in Asian cuisine. Animal and laboratory studies have found that curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) demonstrated some anticancer effects. However, clinical research is needed to determine curcumin's role in cancer prevention and treatment in humans. How is it promoted for use? Some researchers believe turmeric may prevent and slow the growth of a number of cancers, particularly tumors of the esophagus, mouth, intestines, stomach, breast and skin, although there is no evidence from human studies to support these claims. One researcher states that curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, inhibited the formation of cancer-causing enzymes in rodents, although this has not been tested in humans. Some researchers have speculated that curcumin, after it enters the body, changes into tetrahydrocurc min, which may be a potent antioxidant. An antioxidant is a compound that blocks the action of activated oxygen molecules, known as free radicals, that can damage cells. Turmeric is promoted primarily as an antiinflammatory herbal remedy that is said to produce far fewer side effects than conventional pain relievers. Some practitioners prescribe turmeric to relieve inflammation caused by arthritis, muscle sprains, swelling, and pain caused by injuries or surgical incisions. It is also promoted as a treatment for rheumatism and as an antiseptic for cleaning wounds. Some proponents claim turmeric interferes with the actions of some viruses, including hepatitis and HIV. Supporters also claim that turmeric protects against liver diseases, stimulates the gall bladder and circulatory systems, reduces cholesterol levels, dissolves blood clots, helps stop external and internal bleeding, and relieves painful menstruation and angina (chest pains usually associated with heart disease). It is also used as a remedy for digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, Crohn's disease, and illnesses caused by the parasite Giardia and by the Salmonella toxin. There is no scientific evidence to support any of these claims.
What does it involve?
Turmeric root is on the Commission E (Germany's regulatory agency for herbs) list of approved herbs, and it is available in powdered form in most grocery stores. It can also be made into a tea or purchased as a tincture or tablets. An ointment made from turmeric can be applied to the skin. Although there is no standardized dose for turmeric, some practitioners recommend taking a teaspoon with each meal. What is the history behind it? The use of turmeric was described in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine as early as the 7th century AD (see Chinese Herbal Medicine). In various Asian folk medicine traditions, turmeric has been used to treat a long list of conditions, including diarrhea, fever, bronchitis, colds, parasitic worms, leprosy, and bladder and kidney inflammations. Herbalists have applied turmeric salve to bruises, leech bites, festering eye infections, mouth inflammations, skin conditions, and infected wounds. Some people inhale fumes of burning turmeric to relieve chronic coughs. Turmeric mixed with hot water and sugar is considered by some herbalists to be a remedy for colds. In India and Malaysia, there is a custom of pasting turmeric onto the skin, a practice now under study for the possibility that it may prevent skin cancer. The bright red forehead mark worn by some Hindu women is created by mixing turmeric with lime juice. Chefs frequently add turmeric to their creations because of its rich flavor and deep yellow color. The seasoning is an important ingredient in Indian curries. It is also used to add color to foods such as butter, margarine, cheese and mustard, to tint cotton, silk, paper, wood and cosmetics, as a food preservative, and to make pickles.
What is the evidence?
Researchers have studied turmeric extensively to determine if it is an effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and whether it holds any promise as a cancer drug. However, all of the evidence so far comes from laboratory or animal studies. Animal and laboratory studies may show a certain substance holds promise as a beneficial treatment, but further studies are necessary to determine if the results apply to humans. According to a review article published by researchers from the Ohio State University in Columbus, curcumin demonstrated anticancer effects at virtually all stages of tumor development in rodents and showed potential to kill cancer cells and prevent normal cells from becoming cancerous. This was particularly true for cancers of the breast, intestines, colon, stomach, and skin in rodents; however, this was not tested in humans. A French laboratory study concluded that curcumin appeared to be a potent inhibitor of cancer development. Several additional laboratory studies also concluded that curcumin might prevent and slow the growth of some types of tumor cells. Two animal studies conducted in India found that curcumin slowed the growth and spread of cancer in mice. Controlled clinical trials are needed to determine what, if any, medical benefits turmeric offers to humans. Are there any possible problems or complications? When used as a spice in foods, turmeric is considered safe. More research is needed to establish the safety of turmeric when used in herbal remedies. Little is known about the potential risks of taking the larger quantities used to treat illnesses. An overdose may result in stomach pain. Contact dermatitis (skin allergy) and stomach ulcers have been reported after long-term use. People taking anticoagulant medications, drugs that suppress the immune system, or non-steroidal pain relievers (such as Ibuprofen) should avoid turmeric. Persons with bleeding disorders, obstructions of the bile duct, or a history of ulcers, also should avoid turmeric. Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding should not use this herb.
P.S.- This information was reprinted from the American Cancer Society's Guide to Complementary and Alternative Methods. Copyright(c)2000, American Cancer Society. This information may not cover all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or interactions, is not intended as medical advice, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor who is familiar with your medical needs.
3-Home Remedies and uses for turmeric Insect and Animal Poisoning:-
Poison caused by spiders and other insects get nullified by the prompt application of a paste of fresh turmeric or its powder along with the leaf juice of Tulsi (holy basil) and by drinking an ounce of the same mixture in water. Insect bites and by drinking an ounce of the same mixture in water. insect bites and poison caused by animal bites are treated also by taking a dose of 6 to 8 gms of pounded turmeric leaves in a glass of water thrice a day.
For cold, fever and cough:
common cold and sneezing subside by taking a few dose of sugared milk boiled with turmeric powder. Inhaling the smoke of burnt, dry turmeric relives nasal congestion due to cold. A powerful remedy to heal ordinary fever is to take a paste mixture of turmeric powder in 4 or 5 drops of bitter ground leaf juice and honey. Mix with ghee the powder of turmeic previously roasted in a brass vessel, and take a few doses of it to alleviate dry cough. Sinusitis subsides by a few doses of decoction of ginger taken along with honey and powder of long pepper.
For Skin diseases:
Many skin infections like scabies, boils and ulcers are healed by repeatedly applying a paste of fresh or dry turmeric in cow's urine for a week or later cleaning it with warm water. Ulcers and boils dry up by applying turmeric powder alone or turmeric powder mix with neem oil or coconut oil. Leprosoid ulcers are healed by the external application of turmeric and Chalmogra seeds (Hydnocarpus kurjii) in cow's urine. Eczema like skin diseases of children on the heads, legs and hands subside by the application of a paste of fresh turmeric rhizome of nut grass(Cyperus rotundus). Applying a paste of fresh 50% turmeric and 50% neem leaves and later washing the face with water boiled with neem leaves heal pimples and acne. Apply a paste of fresh turmeric, gingely seeds and leaves of Cephalendra indica ('Koval') to heal diabetic ulcers. Ringworm infection and eczema subside by applying a paste of fresh turmeric and tulsi leaves. Applying a paste of fresh turmeric in neem oil heals infection caused by the in curving nails of foot fingers.
Other recipes for skin treatment:
Application of a fine paste of turmeric, mustard seeds and limejuice on the affected parts is beneficial in Skin Diseases
For diabetes and asthmatic bronchites:
A daily dose of 5 gm of fresh turmeric powder in a mixture of 0.5oz. of fresh Indian gooseberry juice and Amrithavalli juice(Phyllanthus emblica) taken daily in the morning in honey has the same effect. A regular dose of turmeric powder taken along with ghee also controls diabetes. Three daily dose of half a teaspoon turmeric powder in one ounce of milk alleviate bronchial asthma.
Other diseases:
A dose of 20 drops of turmeric juice with salt early in the morning kills tape warms and round worms. Inflammation and pain at the joints due to sprains and fracture subside by applying a poultice of turmeric, lime or common salt or by applying a poultice of turmeric lemon juice and rock salt. Grind fresh turmeric and mix it in water, boil, cool, filter and apply in the eyes to heal minor wounds. The skin becomes fairer by the daily application of turmeric paste and daily drinking of an ounce of diluted turmeric juice. Spread the powder of turmeric and cardamom on a piece of cloth, roll it, dip it in ghee, light, put off the fire and inhale the smoke to alleviate migraine.
